of cincinnati



Oct. 15, 1929. J. E. MccARTHY LAUNDRY MARKING TAG Filed July 5. 1927 gmmuoz u? Patented Oct. 15, 1929 UNITED STATES JOHN E. MCCARTI-IY, 0F CINCINNATI, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE AMERICAN LAUNDRY MACHINERY COMPANY, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO LAUNDRY MARKING TAG Application filed July 5. 1927.

This invention relates to marking and sorting apparatus and especially to that type used in laundries and the like to identify articles through the various laundry treatments and to assist in the sorting of the same.

According to this invention the apparatus comprises a plurality of tubular racks arranged for support on a wall or any other upright and having a cross section throughout its length of such shape t-hat it will receive a stack of flat markers and hold them in transverse arrangement within the rack and prevent the twisting and accidental discharge of any of the markers through the slot which receives the neck of the tag or marker.

More specificially, the invention contemplates the use of an apparatus including a rack of substantially rectangular tubular cross section with a tag neck slot in the bottom and with the lower flanges, forming the bottom bent upwardly transversely of the rack to cooperate with the peripheral contour of a suitably shaped tag to prevent the twisting of the tag and hence its dropping out through slot of the rack. The tag, utilized in conjunction with this rack, includes any suitable means for attachment to the work as well as a main body portion having a peripheral contour of substantially the configuration of the opening in the rack, together with a neck eX- tending through the slot whereby the plurality of flat markers may be arranged and supported in the rack in the sorting operation without any danger of accidental removal. The rack may be provided with a closed front and an opening upwardly from the bottom, near the front, for the insertion of the tag. In order to identify each rack with its own tags a suitable key or spline arrangement may be provided at the entrance or above the opening in the bottom and cooperating with suitable recesses cut in the tag for causing each rack to receive its own tag thereby forming a check upon the operator to insure all the articles of all lots or groups being placed in the proper racks.

Other features of the invention will be brought out in the following description, drawings and claims.

Referring to the drawings, Fig. 1 isa view Serial No. 203,584.

in side elevation partially broken away i'llustrating the invention; Fig. 2 is a section upon the line 2-2, Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a section upon the line SH3, Fig. 2; and Fig. 4 is a composite view in perspective showing the tag and securing means.

In the embodiment set forth, the rack comprises a suitable base 1 adapted to be secured to the wall or other support. This base 1 has secured to it a tubular rack comprising a top wall 2, side walls 3 and bottom inclined flanges 4. These iianges project inwardly and upwardly and are spaced apart a suitable distance to receive the neck of the tag, as will appear. Near the front and at the bottom the flanges 4 are transversely slotted at 5 to provide a recess or opening for the entrance of the tag. The tag may also be insei-ted through the front end if it be open, as shown.

Secured to the upper wall 2 is a suitable key block 6 of any desirable configuration t0 cooperate with the key recesses of the tags belonging to this particular rack. The key blocks and tag recesses of different articles will be different, hence a plurality of articles belonging to the same class may be marked or identified by the tags of any rack and may be collected and sorted from others by the application of the tags to the racks, tags belonging to any particular rack being the only ones which will properly enter.

The tag employed comprises the main body portion 7 of substantially the transverse internal area of the rack and fitting with sulficient looseness therein to slide freely. This body portion has downwardly extending angular parts 8 fitting down into the angular channels or recesses formed by the upwardly inclined flanges t. The main body of the tag is notched, as at 9 and 10, to provide key recesses which cooperate with the key block 6. The main body portion 7 is further provided with a downwardly extending neck 11 provided with suitable openings 12 for the reception of the side members or prongs of a staple 13 in the securement of the tag to the garment. The marker is applied to the article by inserting the staple through the openings 12 and through the article. The prongs are then bent over the article to secure it to the tag. In order to facilitate the removal of the staple, the neck and body of the tag is provided with a vertically disposed recess 14 extending transversely of the main portion of the staple for receiving a suitable tool and facilitating the removal of the staple when the tags are removed from the article.

In use the several articles to be identified, and belonging to the same group, are supplied with markers and are then sent through a suitable treatment, as for example, a laundry process, after which, when they are collected, the sorters examine the markers, ascertain the indication thereon and places them in their proper racks. If the operator should make a mistake and place a tag in the wrong rack, engagement therein is prevented by the rack refusing to receive the wrong tag.

What I claim is:

1. Identifying apparatus comprising a rack having an upper tag engaging wall and lower upwardly inclined flanges extending toward each other and spaced to provide a tag shank slot, and a plurality of tags each comprising a body portion extending from said top wall to said flanges and having lateral wings extendingl along the upper inclined faces of said inclined flanges and a shank extending through the slot between said flanges and adapted to be secured to the article.

2. As in claim 1 wherein the rack is of substantially hollow rectangular type with its bottom formed by the upwardly inclined flanges spaced apart at the center to provide a slot for the shanks of the tags.

3. As in claim 1 wherein the upper tag engaging wall and the upper edge of the tag are provided with cooperating identifying projections and recesses to provide identifying means between the tags and the racks.

4. As in claim 1 wherein the upper wall of the rack is provided with an identifying spline and the tags are provided with like recesses to provide identifying means between the tags and the rack.

In testimony whereof I hereby affix my signature.

JOHN E. MCCARTHY. 

